Sitting Odisha MP Balabhadra Majhi joins BJP

New Delhi, Mar 16: Sitting MP from Nabarangpur in Odisha, Balabhadra Majhi on Saturday joined BJP in presence of Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Jual Oram.

BJP Odisha in-charge Arun Singh and party's national vice president Baijayant Panda were also present on the occasion at the party headquarters here.

Mr Majhi had resigned from the Biju Janata Dal on Thursday and is likely to contest again from the same constituency on BJP ticket.

Speaking on the occasion Mr Oram and Mr Pradhan exuded confidence that Mr Majhi's entry into BJP will give the saffron party a major boost in coming elections to Lok Sabha and also the state Assembly.

Mr Pradhan said Mr Majhi's contribution as lawmaker was significant as he took a major initiative and ensured smooth execution of works by the Railways and the state government to take Railway network into the 'non-existent railway routes in the constituency'.

According to sources, BJD chief Naveen Patnaik may field a former state minister Ramesh Majhi from Nabarangpur and this may have prompted Balabhadra Majhi to jump the ship.

Reports from Odisha said that Congress may field Pradeep Kumar Majhi from the constituency. UNI